Ice melting device



Sept. 22, 1931.` A R, TOWERS 1,824,638

ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Jan. l2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1931. A, R, TOWERS IcE MEETING DEVICE 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l2, 1929 lieg- Patented Sept. 22, 1931 AUGUSTUS n Towns, or nicnxoim, vmemu Ion mamme Imi'vicua Application med January 12, 1929. Serial Ilo. 882,152.

The resent invention relates toa device for me ting and removing ice-from receptacles, and more especially to an improved apparatus for liberating ice cubes or molds (6 from refrigerator trays, containers or the 'be made like.

Heretofore it has been customary to remove the ice cubes from their trays by placing the tray under a faucet and allowing water to run overit until the cubes are liberated. This method is not only very inconvenient and wasteful, since considerable ice melts before the cubes are finally separated from the tray, but it is also very disagreeable and slow,- on account of the splashing of the water and the time consumed in extracting the ice.

It is an object 'of the present invention to overcome the defects and` inconveniences above noted by providing a simple, economical and efficient means for liberating ice cubes or `molds from their trays or containers, which means essentially comprises' a heating chamber in which the ice tray jsfarranged to be inserted,"and associating'with the chamber an electrical heating element for causing the liberation and removal of the ice cubes from their trays with a ice.

A further object comprehends'the provision of automatic means for causing the heating of the electrical heating element when the ice tray is placed within the heating chamber and the cutting off of the heating element circuit upon the liberation of the ice from the tray.

Another object is to provide means for insuring the removal of the ice -cubes from the tray, which means is responsive to the difference in weight of the tray when filled with ice and when the ice is removed therefrom for effecting movement ofthe tray relative to the heating element. so as to dislodge and remove any of the ice cubes that might otherwise be prevented from falling away fromv the tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an ice melting apparatus, which support is so constructed that it may a part of a refrigerating machine. or conveniently placed near the machine, so as-to receive the ice trays immediately upon minimum melting of the the cubes can be their removal from the machine, in order that Other obglects apparent om when taken in conjunction panying drawings and claims.

Referring to extracted therefrom.

andadvantages will become the following description with the accomthe drawings, in which is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, y

Figure 1 is a frame showingt ated therewith.

Figure 2 is a s plan view ofA a supporting he ice melting device associide elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3`3 of Figure 4 is a s tially along the line Figure 1. ectional view taken substan- 4-4 of Fi re 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like views, 10Y generally denotes a su frame or rack preferably compose parts in the several porting of any suitable light metal, and may be provided with the spaced laterally extending side bars 11 and 12, that are connected to the vertical bars 13 in any suitable manner such as by welding or the like.

The outer free ends of the bars 11 and 12 are each supported by the substantially U-shaped bar 14, the transverse arm 15 of which is positioned slightly in advance of the adjacent ends of the bars 11 and 12 (Fig. i),

while the ends of the bar 14 are suitably connected to the lower portions of the vertical bars 13. A transverse bar 16 connects the vertical bars 13 and is spaced from an intermediate transverse bar 17, that is connected to the side bars 11 and 12 respectively.

The ends of the openings 18 for bars 13 are provided with receiving screws or the like,

in order to permit the frame to be readily connected to a re frigerating machine or positioned close to the machine for the purpose hereinafter described.

An electrical may be of any heating element 19, which suitable configuration, but

preferably is formed as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. with rounded corners 20 so as to eliminate sharp break the same,

bends that would tend to is suitably connected to a switch box 21, secured by the bolts 22 to the transverse bar 1 6. A switch actuating arm 23 extends laterally from one side of the box 21 and is arranged to move in an arcuate slot 24, in order to operate any conventional type of switch that may be mounted within the switch box 21, for controlling the flow of current to the heating element 19. Conducting wires 25 lead from the switch and are connected to a suitable electric circuit, (not shown). The heating element 19`is preferably composed of a resistance wire 26, that is wrapped with a substance 27 which is a good electric insulator and likewise a heat conductor, such as mica or the like, in order to obtain quick thermal conduction while a protecting shield or tube 28 of aluminum or other heat conducting material encloses the mica. It will be seen that the heating element is so constructed and formed as to be completely protected from moisture and may be bent or assume any desired configuration, in order to conform with the particular shape of either the supporting frame or the ice tray, as may be found expedient. The heating element 19 is connected to the frame 10 by the brackets 29 that are secured to the inside walls of the side bars 11 and 12 respectively (Fig. 4).

A metallic receptacle or hood 30 is preferably formed with an outer section 31 and a spaced inner section 32, the space between the sections being filled with any suitable heat insulating material 30', such as asbestos or the like. Additionally, the receptacle 30 may have its bottom and outer end opened, so as to provide a heating chamber 33 positioned immediately above the heating element 19 and arranged to receive an inverted ice tray or container 34 of the general type used with domestic refrigerating machines. In order that the receptacle 30 may accommodate. within the heating chamber 33, ice trays of varying sizes, it is arranged to be vertically adjustable relative to the heating element by means of the pins or screws 35, which extend laterally from the side walls of the receptacle and fit within vertically disposed slots 36 formed in the side bars 11 and 12 (Fig. 2). A handle` 37 connected to the top of the receptacle 30, permits the receptacle to be manually raised or lowered, when necessary.

The ice tray 34 is provided with the transverse partitions or combs 38, thatfform separate ice compartments 39, thatareusually removably mounted in the tray, but may be permanently fixed therein, so as to constitute a part of the drawer of artificial ice making or refrigerating machines. The tray 34 upon its withdrawal from the refrigerating machine is arranged to be invertedly supported onwthe shield 28. However, instead of resting on the heating element, it may be supported within the heating chamber in any other suitable fashion.

In order to automatically control the {iow of current to the heating element 19, means are provideid for moving the switch to its Non, tray within the heating chamber 33, said means also being used to cut oi the switch and 'move the tray 34 relative to the heating element 19, when the ice cubes have been liberated from the tray. This means preferably comprises a swin 'ng lever or pendulum 40, which is pivote at its upper end as at 41, to the transverse bar 17 and .has a ponderous member or weight 42 connected to its opposite extremity for -urging the lever to assume a vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. An arm 43 extends outwardly from the lever 40 and has `a forked end 44, in which is journalled a roller 45, that extends through an opening 46 in the end wall of the receptacle 34, so as to engage the adjacent end of the ice tray34 when the latter is inserted within the heating chamber 33. The

'switch arm 23 extends so as to engage the lever 40 and be actuated thereby during its swinging movement to either its on or off position.

A hopper or 48 to the brackets 49 on the under side of each of the side bars 11 and 12, receives the ice cubes as they fall from the tray. The outer end of the hopper may have a spring clip 50, arranged to be detachably connected to the transverse arm 15 of the bar 14, normally 'to maintain the hopper in a fixed position and allow it, when the clip is released from the arm 15, to be swung downwardly on its pivot as to facilitate the removal of the ice there- It will be seen that when the ice tray 34 is removed from the heating chamber 33, the weight 42 tends to swing the arm 40 to the dotted line position as shown in Figure 3, so

that the arm 43 will extend an appreciable distance within the heating chamber 33.

trough 47, which is pivoted at position upon the msertion of the ice When the arm 40 moves to this position, it n allows the switch arm 23 to swing downward` ly in the slot 24, so as t'o open the circuit leading to the heating element 19. Upon the ice tray being inserted within the heating chamber throughvthe end opening 52, the inner end of the tray will engage the roller 45 in the manner as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and as the tray is moved into its proper position, will cause the lever 40 to be moved upwardly to assume its full linev position and at the same time actuate the switch arm 23 to close the circuit, so as to permit current to flow through the heating element 19. The combined weight of the tray and ice is normally suiicient to maintain the arm 40 l the weight 42 and consequently the arm 43, when the ice cubes are extracted frmn the tra-y, will swing to its dotted line position, as shown in Figure 3, which in turn causes the tray to be moved outwardly relative to the heating chamber 33 and also allows the switch to break the circuit to the heating element 19. This is very desirable since a few of the ice cubes might not be removed from the tray,.due to the extended portions of the frame preventing them from falling into the trough 47. However, as the tray is moved, it will allow such cubes to fall into the trough and thus insure a complete extraction of all the cubes from the tray.

, The upper ends of each of the side bars 11 and 12 may be of channel formation, such as shown at 53, while the lower end portions of these bars may be shaped so' as to form' a space 54, in which is inserted a suitable heat insulator, such as asbestos or the like, in order to increase and retain as much of the heat within the chamber 33 as possible.

When the parts are in the position as shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the switch is moved, so as to permit the current to pass to the heating element 19 and as the inverted tray 34 rests directly upon the heating element 19, the heat will be conducted by thermal contact and radiation to the area of the heating chamber 33 surrounding the tray. As the ice tray 34 and'the partitions 38 are good thermal conductors and in direct contact with the heating element, the heat will be conducted to all points of the tray that are in contact with the ice cubes and will cause the liberation of the cubes With a minimum melting of the ice and allow them to fall into the trough 47, where, upon release of the spring clip 50, they may be conveniently removed for use. In view of the fact that the asbestos lining 30 tends to retain the heat in the chamber 33 at points Where it is most needed, the ice will be removed from the tray in a comparatively very short time after the tray is inserted in the chamber. Moreover, by utilizing the difference in Weight of the tray when the ice is removed therefrom, for automatically cutting oit the current, it eliminates the danger of overheating the element 19 and also prevents the unnecessary consumption of the current.

In order to prevent the melted ice collected in the hopper from being removed with the ice cubes when the hopper is moved to its discharging position, a shelf 52 having a series of perforations 53', may be removably supported by the ledge 54 extending from tue inner sides of the hopper a slight distance above the bottom thereof, so as to separate the ice cubes from the water and permit only the removal of the ice.

Obviously. the heating device may equally be employed for removing blocks of ice from refrigerator drawers or containers, in which the transverse partitions or combs are not used and large molds of ice are desired. While the receptacle 30 and the heating chamber 33 are desirable, in that the tend to localize the heat and prevent the issipation thereof, it is manifest that the receptacle 30 may be eliminated and the heating elcment 19 alone used to remove the ice from the tray.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment and that such changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating element, an ice tray invcrtedly and perimetrically supported on said element, and means upon the generating of heat by said element for liberating the ice from said tray.

2 An apparatus of the class described having in combination an electrical heating element, a switch operatively connected to said element, an ice tray perimetrically supported on said element, and means upon the engagement of said ice tray with said element for actuating the switch to heat said element.

3. An apparatus of the class described' having in combination an electrical heating element, a switch operatively connected to said element, an ice tray adapted to be perimetrically supported on said element, means upon the complete engagement of said ice tray with said element for actuating the switch to heat said element, and means upon the removal of the ice from said tray for cut- L ting off the switch.

4. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a chamber having an opened bottom portion, an ice tray, means invcrtedly supporting said tray Within said chamber, a heating element associated with saidv chamber for causing the liberation of the ice from the.tray through said bottom, and means upon the insertion of the tray horizontally into the chamber for heating said element.

5. An apparatus ofthe class described having in combination chamber, an electrical heating element, a switch operativelyvconnected to said clement, an ice tray arranged to be positioned within said chamber, meansv upon the longitudinal insertion of the tray in-l to the chamber for actuating the switch to heat said element, and means responsive to the variation in weight of the tray as the liberated ice drops therefrom for automatically cutting oif the switch and moving the tray outwardly relative to said chamber.

6. An apparatus ofthe class described having in combination a hea-ting chamber, a

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heating element associated with said chamber, an ice tray arranged to be inserted horizontally within said chamber and invertedly supported by said heating element, and means in the path of said tray and adapted to be actuated thereby for heating the latter and causing the liberation of the icc from the tra 73.7 An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating chamber provided With an opening for the insertion of an ice tray, a heating element connected to said chamber and arranged to support the ice tray therein, a switch operatively connected to said heating element, means upon the insertion of the ice tray-within the chamber for actuating the switch so as to cause the heatin-g of said element, and a hopper pivotally connected to said apparatus for receiving the ice as it falls from the tray.

8. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating chamber having its bottom and one end open, anelectrical heating element positioned lagainst the bottom of said chamber, an ice tray arranged to be inserted in said chamber and invertedly supported on said heating element, a switch operatively connected to said heating element, means upon insertion of the tray within said chamber for automatically causing the actuation ofthe switch to permit the heating of said element, and means for movingv the tray relative to the chamber, said last mentioned means being responsive to the variation in Weight of the tray after the ice is removed therefrom for actuating the tray.

9. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating chamber havlng its bottom and one end open, an electrical heating element 'connected to said chamber adjacent the bottom thereof, an ice tray arranged to be inserted in said chamber and invertedly supported on said heating element, a switch operatively connected to said heating element, means upon insertion of the tray within said chamber for automatically causing the actuation of the switch to permit the heating of said element, and means upon the liberating of the ice from the tray for cutting off the switch and moving the tray relative to said chamber.

10. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating chamber, a heating element associated with said chamber, an ice tray arranged to be inserted in said chamber and invertedly supported by said heating element, means upon the insertion of the tray into the chamber for heating said element and liberating the ice from the tray, means for receiving the ice as it falls from the tray, and means for moving the tray longitudinally relative to the heating element, said last mentioned means being responsive to the difference in weight of the tray when filled with ice and when the ice is removed from the tray for actuating the same.

11. An apparatus of the class described having in combination a heating chamber having its bottom and one end open, an electrical heatin element positioned adjacent to said cham er, an ice tray arranged to be inserted in said chamber and invertedly supported on said heating element, a switch operatively connected to said heating element, means upon insertion of the tray Within said chamber for automatically causing the actuation of the switch to permit the heating of said element, and means pivotally connected to said apparatus for receiving the ice as it falls from said tray.

12. A support for ice trays comprising a frame, a receptacle mounted on said frame, an electrical heating element associated with said receptacle, means for supporting an ice tray within said receptacle, means upon the Ainsertion of said tray within said receptacle for heating said element so as to cause the liberation of the ice from the tray, means upon the removal of the ice from the tray for automatically cutting oi the heating of said element, and a hopper connected to said support for receiving the ice as itissues from the tray.

13. A support for ice trays comprising a frame, a receptacle adjustably connected to said frame, an electrical heating element carried by said frame and positioned adjacent said receptacle, means for supporting an ice tray within said receptacle, means upon the insertion of said tray within said receptacle for heating said element so as to cause the liberation of the ice from the tray, and means upon the removal of the ice from the tray for automatically cutting off the current to said element.

14. A support for ice trays comprising a frame, a receptacle having an opened bottom and side connected to said frame and arranged to form a heating chamber therein,

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an electrical heating element connected to said frame and positioned adjacent said chamber, a switch operatively connected to said heating element, a member for actuating said switch, means for invertedly supporting an ice tray within said chamber, means upon the insertion of said tray longitudinally within said chamber for actuating said member to heat said element, and means upon the removal of the ice from the tray for automatically causing thc cutting ofi" of the switch. and the movement of the tray outwardly relative to said chamber.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, an electrical'heating element mounted on said frame, a heat insulated receptacle adjustably connected to said frame above said heating element, a ponderous member pivotally connected to said frame and having an arm extherewith for causing the liberation tendin into said receptacle, a switch for contro ling the flow of currentto said heating element and operatively connected to said ponderous member, a hopper pivotall connected at one end to said frame and etachabl connected to the frame at its opposite en an ice tra-y 'arranged to be invertedly supported by said heating element within said receptacle and engage the arm of said ponder-ous member, means upon the insertion of said tray within said receptacle for automatically heating the heatingelement, said pondereus member being operative to move the tray when the weight of the tray is reduced by the liberation of the ice therefrom.

16. An open bottom support for inverted ice trays having heating means connected of the ice blocks from the tray when the latter is placed on the support, said open bottom permitting the free downward removal of the ice blocks from the tray.

17. A heating device of the class described comprising an electrical heating element ar- "fa ranged to support perimetrically an inverted ice trag',I means upon the heating of said element or causing the liberation and downward removal of the ice from the tray, and means for movingA the tray longitudinally relative to the heating element upon the withdrawal of the ice from the tray.

18. A heating apparatus of the class described comprising a support, a heating element associated therewith, and an inverted ice-tray mounted on said support, said support havinglan opening in the bottom thereof to rmit t e ice liberated from the tray to fa freel therethrough.

19. A eating apparatus of the class described comprising an opened bottom support, a heatin element thermally associated therewith, an an inverted ice tray on said support whereby upon the ener'atin otf heat by said heating element t e ice is l1berated from the tray and falls freely through the support.

20. A heating apparatus of the class described having 1n combination a chamber pro nverted Said su rt a heating element disposed within said chismvidedv with an opened bottom su port, an inverted ice tray mounted on said) sup rt, a heating element disposed within said chamber and thermally associated with said support, and means upon the insertion of the inverted tray within the 4chamber for heating said element whereby the ice is liberated from the tray and falls freely through the openirgv in the support.

21. heating apparatus of the class described having in combination a chamber rovided with an opened bottom support, an

ice tray mounted on with said supinsertion of the inchamber for heatingsaid element whereby the ice is liberated from the tray and falls freely through the ope in the support, and means upon the remov of the ice from the tray for causing the movement of the tray outwardly relative to the chamber.

22. A heating apparatus of the class de scribed having in combination a chamber provided with an opened bottom support, an inverted ice tray employed in said chamber, an electrical heating element thermally associated with said support, an electric switch for controlling the supply of current to said heating element, means upon the insertion of the tray within the chamber for turning on the switch,and means when the ice is liberated from the tray for cutting olf the switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y AUGUSTUS R. TOWERS. y

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